Multiposter



March 10, 1959 J. H. SCHMORDE 2,876,568

'MULI'IPOSTER 7 Filed Aug. 8, I958 s Sheets-Sheet 1' 'EIE3 l INVENTOR.

J hn Sch 0rde WWW A TTORNE Y8 March 10, 1959 J. H. SCHMORDE MULTIPOSTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1958 INVENTOR.

' John c morde ATTORNEYS United States MULTIPOSTER Application August s, 1958, Serial No. 753,903

1 (Elaine. (Cl. ib-36) This is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 517,597, filed June 23, 1955.

This invention relates to a display device and particularly relates to certain improvements in a device similar to that shown in the Blum patent, 2,589,474. Such display devices include a plurality of advertising or display sheets which are stacked one above the other and means for withdrawing the top sheet from the pile every few seconds and thereafter inserting the sheet at the base of the pile so that eventually the same sheet may be exposed again in turn. A device of this type must be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet rugged, simple and positive in operation.

In such devices, some means must be provided for holding the display sheets in a steady position during the display period, for releasing the top (display) sheet at the proper time when it is to be picked up by an advancing conveyor, and for readjusting the positions of each of the other sheets in a proper manner as the display sheet is moved to the bottom of the stack and the next sheet beneath the top is exposed and advanced into the display position.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a mechanismfor accomplishing these movements in a simple and positive manner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mechanism for rearranging the position of various display sheets in a stack, which mechanism is of such construction and operation that the top sheets in the stack are successively removed and replaced with other sheets to be displayed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of the type described above which insures that the individual display sheets which are moved about in the interior of the device through the agency of a 'conveying'system do not become entangled with the gears,

chains or other moving parts.

In the drawings forming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a back view of the device of the present invention with the rear cover removed.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the lines 2- 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial back view of the top of device illustrating one position of the holder bars.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing another position of the carrier bars.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the carrier bars.

Figure 6 is a rear view of the interior of the device, the figure showing the method of removal of one of the individual carrier bars.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower interior of the structurefrorn one end thereof showing the means by which individual carrier elements are anchored in. position after being released by the conveyor mechanism.

Figure Ms :1 section taken along line 8-8' of Figure '7.

ate-tit 2,876,568 Patented Mar. 10, 1959 are 'moved successively about a closed circuit, one portion of which provides for exposure at an exhibit area. For simplicity in illustration, only a single sheet 83 has been shown. Operation of the device involves removal of a display sheet from the top of a stack of display sheets after this topmost sheet has been exposed for a pre-selected period of time and the insertion of such topmost sheet at the bottom of the pile, all this being accomplished by means of a conveyor system. Specifically,

each display'sheet is attached along one terminal end to a carrier bar, the several carrier bars being arranged-in a side-by-side relation everywhere in the circuit ovr which the bars are moved, except in a portion offth'at region of the circuit which is at the rear of the device. Each bar is advanced toward the exhibit areaby a set increment when pressure is applied to the last bar in line, the sheets trailing from the successive bars in overlapping relation, with the sheet most lately on display being slid beneath all of the others as its carrier bar is pressed into engagement with the line of bars by action of the conveyor.

The device has a frame, generally designated 21, having a top 22, sidewalls 23 and 24 and a lower shelf 29 bridging the sidewalls. An electric motor 31 is mounted beneath the shelf 29 and attached thereto are a gear -recluction mechanism 32 and a drive shaft 33 having a sprocket 34 thereon. A chain 36 is trained about the sprocket 3'4 and about another sprocket 37 mounted upoh a stub shaft 38 rotatably mounted on a bracket 39,. the latter being secured to themember24. A second sprocket 42 is also mounted on the shaft 38 and a chain 43 is trained about the sprocket 42-and about another sprocket 44, which is mounted on shaft 45. 'Also mounted on shaft 45 is-sprocket 51, which rotates with the sprocket 44. A chain 52 is trained around the sprocket 51 and about 'another'sprocket 53, mounted for rotation on support 39. Secured to thesprocket 53 is a spur gear 56, which is meshed with idler gear 57, which in turn is meshed with gears 59, 62, idler gear 64 and gear 67. Gear 67 is mounted for rotation with a sprocket 68, sprockets 53 and 68 being of the same size and, because of the gearing, turning at the same speed but in opposite directions. A chain. 71 is trained around the sprocket 68- and sprocket 72.

Parallel, continuous channels or tracks 76 are positioned one on each side of the device, the tracks including-two parallel vertical straight legs 76A and 76B joined .by lower and upper semi-circular portions 76C and- 76D. Legs 76A are adjacent the window, while legs 76B are providedin back of and spaced fromthe window. The path of travel ofa display sheet is upward past the window along legs 76A, thence around upper semi-circular portions 76D, downlegs 76B, and finally around the semicircular portions 76C. Movement is by uniform, predetermined, stepwise advance except over a portion of'leg 76B, as is hereafter set forth in detail.

Because the rear portion of the device is open except during that portion of the cycle when the topmost sheet, lately on display, is pulled from the top of the pile and reinserted at the bottom by means of movement of its carrier bar (in turn carried by the conveyormechanism), it is possible to secure access to the working parts of the machine without'the necessity for removal ofvarious of the carrier bars and, inaddition, it is possible to remove individual carrier bars from the tracks wherein they ride portion whereby to release the ends of the carrier bars,

as shown in Figure 6.

Positioned for movement between the tracks 76 are a plurality of separate sheet carriers, indicated generally at 77, each of the sheet carriers being of generally U; shaped cross section having opposite legs 78 thereon joined by an intermediate member 79, the latter having a suitable receptacle thereon for mounting a flexible paper display sheet. This means, designated 80, for

fastening a display sheet may be that illustrated in Figure 8 of Blum Patent 2,589,474. The carrier bar is simply a length of channel having three notches in each flange (or leg)see Figure of the drawings. These notches in either flange are: of such size as to allow passage therethrough of certain pins to be described hereinafter.

To move the sheet holders successively, pins 91 are provided in the same relative position upon the chains 52 and 71, and each sheet carrier includes a pair of recesses or notches 90 therein, in lower leg of the U, permitting the pins 91 to pass upwardly therethrough to a position within the legs on a carrier. At the start of the downward motion of the pins 91, the carrier is in position just below the end of semi-circular track portion 76D and the carrier is engaged by each of the pins 91, whereupon it is moved downwardly over a distance corresponding to the vertical distance of travel of pins 91. At the bottom of the cycle, the pins 91 pass through the opening 92 in the upper leg of the carrier bar, whereupon the pins return free for picking up the next successive sheet holder.

It is necessary to provide some means for successively releasing one sheet holder as it is engaged by the pins 91 and for restraining the adjacent sheet holder. This "is accomplished by means of the arms 93 and 95, which are pivoted at point 97. The arm 93 is biased by the spring 99 in a counter-clockwise direction and held against the stop 101. The spring 99 also bears at point 103 against arm 95 and biases this arm in a clockwise direction, it being restrained by stop 105. Bar 95 has a restraining pin 107 thereon which is adapted to engage and hold one of the sheet holders 77 by riding between the two legs 78. The bar 93 has a similar pin 109,

which is also adapted to rest against and so support leg 78 of a sheet holder 77. The sheet holders 77 have slots 111 in the centers thereof so that the sheet holders can pass over the pins 107 and 109 when these pins are located substantially under the pivot point 97.

Reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4 will show the method of actuation of the bars 93 and 95, and the method by which the sheets are released. The pinion 59 has a cam time has contacted the arm 93, moving it in a clockwise direction so that the pin 107 is directly below the opening in the carrier bar 77A, enabling the pin 91 to lower the frame 77A. At this time, the arm 95 has -not moved so that the pin 107 is still restraining carrier bar 778. As sheet holder 77A is lowered, the cam roller -115 contacts the arm 95, moving the pin 107 to the center position, freeing sheet holder 77B so that eventually it can be pushed downwardly by the advancing sheet holders. As is shown in Figure 4, the arm 93 returns to its former position, so that the pin 109 will engage the :lower leg of the sheet holder 778 as soon as it comes into the position formerly occupied by the sheet holder 77A. After the sheet holder 77A reaches the lowermost position and has caused all of the sheet holders to move down one position, as seen from the rear of the device (Figures 1, 3 and 4), and to move up one position, as would be seen from the front were the glass removed, the pin 107 moves back into the position shown in Figure 1.

As shown to some extent in Figures 1 and 6 and in detail in Figures 7 and 8, means are provided for holding each carrier bar 77 in position at the base of the rear of the device after the conveyor mechanism has transported it into such a position. It is essential that some locking means be provided to hold the carrier bars in place for the weight of the superimposed carrier bars along the front of the device, as seen in Figure 2, would be suflicient to force the entire row upwardly on the rear side. The locking means comprises an L-shaped member pivoted at 122 to the frame of the structure. A spring 124 is hooked through eye 126 of the L-shaped member and is secured to the frame at the far end by means of book 128. The L-shaped member terminates in a flanged portion 130 having a second flange 132 at right angles thereto. This second flange 132 is of decreased width at the upper end thereof, as seen in Figure 7, and the main L-portion 120 together with the contiguous flanges 130 and 132 form a generally U-shaped element which partially surrounds the channel 76C in which the individual carrier bars 77 ride. When a carrier bar, forced downwardly by pins 91, strikes the narrow upper edge of flange 132 it will be seen that the carrier leg 78 will barely pass to the right of the flange 132see Figure 7. This forces the L-shaped member to pivot outwardly against the resistance of spring 124 until the carrier bar 77 assumes the position of the topmost of those seen in Figure 7. At this point, the spring will cause the flange 132 to fall back into place, as shown in Figure 7, thereby preventing upward movement of the carrier bar.

As shown in detail in Figure 6, two parallel lengths of clock spring or other resilient metal and 142 are secured at the upper ends thereof to the frame of the machine and throughout their lengths follow the paths of tracks 76. The lowermost ends of the clock springs are bridged with a strip 144 having a hole at the center thereof through which loosely rides a guide pin 146 secured at its lowermost end to the upright support 39. In Figure 1, only a portion of the resilient assembly formed of elements 140, 142 and 144 is shown and, for the sake of clarity, this assembly has not been shown at all in Figure 2. However, as can clearly be seen in Figure 6, the lowermost ends of the clock springs 140 and 142 are free except for the elfect of the pin 146' which serves as a guide. Thus, the clock spring elements may pivot from their uppermost ends. Individual sheets or posters are moved downwardly across the rear of the device and the loose upper ends of the sheets would fall into the mechanism in the absence of clock spring elements 140 and 142. These elements thus serve as guides for the poster, supported otherwise, as they are, only at their lowermost edges as they traverse the portion of the circuit at the rear of the machine.

The operation of the individual bars 93 and 95 each bearing pins, 109 and 1.07 respectively, has been described above. It is to be noted further that the use of these spring loaded bars instead of a structure such as that described in the aforementioned Blum Patent 2,589,474 (wherein the members functionally corresponding to bars 93 and 95 have rollers thereon which at all times must follow cams) provides several advantages. Specifically, when the simplified structure of this invention is used, it is possible to remove the back from the device so that the interior portions thereof are exposed, as seen in Figures 1, 3 and 4. By grasping and squeezing the ends of bars 93 and 95, it is possible to position the pins 109 and 107 as shown in Figure 4, wherein the pins are directly beneath the central notches of the carrier bars. Thus, it is possible to remove the carrier bars and, of course, the poster or display sheets attached thereto, as a simple manual operation without the necessity for operating the machine to release the individual carrier bars one at a time. Thus it is possible to prepare a second set of carrier bars having different indicia While the first set is in use, and when it is desired to replace the first set of carrier bars and associated material, this can be done as a single straight-forward operation without ever operating the machine.

Further, the elimination of the pusher arms shown in the aforementioned Blum structure, which are for purposes of forcing individual carrier bars into a locked position, has a decided advantage in that this makes possible the easy removal of individual carrier bars as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. In the improved device, only the clock spring elements 140 and 142 are of sufficient height to contact the base of an individual carrier bar 77 and since the clock spring elements are free at the lowermost ends thereof, they readily pivot downwardly out of the way. The presence of fixed rigid pusher arms of the type shown in the aforementioned Blurn patent means that it is difficult to manipulate an individual carrier bar as shown in Figure 6.

In the manner described above, this structure operates to remove the sheet being displayed from the top of the pile, the removal of the sheet being accomplished by an appropriately synchronized operation whereby the carrier bar designated 77A (which has attached thereto the topmost flexible sheet in overlying relationship with respect to the others) moves downwardly and is thereafter locked in position at the base of the structure by L-shaped members 120, one of which is positioned at either side of the machine. As the carrier bar pulling the topmost poster reaches the bottom of the device, the entire group is forced upwardly a distance equivalent to the width of the individual carrier bars, somewhere between A" and /2". The sheet trailing therebehind is supported by the clock spring elements 140 and 142 and the next sheet down from the top of the pile is automatically exposed to view. The chains return pins 91 to the top of the device again, the cams cause the bars 93 and 5 to again release an individual carrier and the cycle is repeated.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a frame-mounted display device containing a show window and having a plurality of compacted, overlapping displays moveably restrained in and partially filling a closed circuit therefor, said device having motor driven means to move said displays one at a time along the empty portion of said circuit, each of said displays being mounted on a carrier having a U-shaped back member,

said device having flexible chains moveable over like paths extending across the empty portion of the circuit, each of said chains having a pin thereon, the improvement comprising: two pairs of opposed slots in each leg of said U, said slots being positioned substantially directly above an upwardly moving section of each said chains whereby to allow passage of each of said pins carried by said chains when said chains are moving upwardly and whereby to allow passage of each of said pins when said U-shaped back member reaches its lowest point and said pins begin an upward path due to movement of said chains, said chains being so placed that each of said pins on said chains passes through a slot on the lower leg of said U, engages the lower leg of said U and advances said U downwardly across the empty portion of the circuit to the other side thereof and thereafter said pins pass upward through the said slots on the upper leg of said U, said chains and pins constituting the sole means for moving said carriers downwardly; a pair of substantially straight generally vertical bars pivoted at a common mid-point to the frame of said display device, said bars being of different lengths and each having an outwardly extending pin positioned near the top thereof; a pair of pinions rotatably mounted to the frame of said display device, one of said pinions being located at either side of said pivot point, said pinions being meshed whereby each turns in an opposite direction; spring means urg ing the top portions of each of said bars outwardly in opposite directions whereby one overlays a portion of one pinion and the other overlays a portion of the second pinion, rollers on each of said pinions adapted to engage and move the tops of said bars during portions of each revolution thereof, each of said U-shaped back members having a slot in each leg thereof in the area occupied by the pins of said bars when said bars are in a first position whereby a pin on the first bar engages a leg of the lowermost U-shaped back positioned above said empty portion of said circuit and a pin on the second bar engages a leg on the next higher U-shaped back when said bars are urged into a spread position under the influence of said spring means, and whereby one bar releases the said lowermost U-back as the roller on the first pinion urges said bar into said first position and wherebythe second arm releases the next higher U-back when the roller on the second pinion urges the second bar into said first position, said chains and said pinions being so synchronized that the said lowermost U-back member held by the said pin on the first of said bars is released at substantially the time that the pins on said chains reach the top of their path of travel and whereby the second bar releases the next higher U-back member after said first bar becomes disengaged from the roller of said second pinion.

No references cited. 

